The grand conference hall of the World
Council was quieter than usual.
Representatives of nearly every major
race had gathered beneath the enormous domed ceiling.
Humans.
Dragons.
Elves.
Beastfolk.
Giants.
Spirits.
Even the rulers of several smaller
nations were present.
Only one race was absent.
The demons.
The atmosphere was tense from the very
beginning.
No one spoke for several moments.
Then the Dragon Ruler leaned back in
his chair, his golden eyes settling on the Human Ruler.
"So…"
"It seems you've finally made your
move."
The Human Ruler nodded calmly.
"We couldn't remain on the defensive
forever."
"If humanity continued waiting, we'd
simply be giving the demons more time to prepare."
The Dragon Ruler folded his arms.
"A bold decision."
"Or a desperate one."
A faint smile appeared on the Human
Ruler's face.
"Perhaps both."
The Elf Ruler sighed softly before
speaking.
"You already know…"
"…the elves would normally have stood
beside humanity."
She closed her eyes briefly.
"But…"
"…Leo."
The room immediately became silent.
"He slaughtered my people."
"And regardless of what anyone says…"
"…he was human."
Several rulers quietly nodded.
The Monster Ruler crossed his arms.
"I've never understood you."
He stared directly at the Human Ruler.
"After everything that boy has done…"
"…why don't you hate him?"
The room waited for her answer.
She lowered her gaze before smiling
faintly.
"No matter what he became…"
"…Leo was still one of my people."
"If I failed to understand him…"
"Then perhaps…"
"…that failure belongs to me as well."
The rulers exchanged confused glances.
The Elf Ruler frowned.
"I still don't understand."
"How can you defend someone
responsible for so many deaths?"
The Human Ruler remained silent.
Because…
She couldn't tell them the truth.
After Leo's mother passed away…
It had been she who raised him.
She had watched him grow.
She had watched him laugh.
She had watched him train.
To everyone else…
Leo was the monster who destroyed the
Hero Academy.
But to her…
He had once been nothing more than a
lonely little boy trying to protect his younger sister.
Even if the entire world curses you…
…I still can't bring myself to hate
you.
Those words never left her heart.
Instead, she simply smiled.
"I'm not defending his actions."
"I'm accepting responsibility as the
ruler who failed to understand him."
No one argued further.
The meeting quietly continued.
After the conference ended…
The Human Ruler walked alone through
the royal gardens.
The evening breeze gently rustled the
leaves as the setting sun painted the sky orange.
She eventually sat on an old stone
bench overlooking the capital.
People continued living below.
Merchants still sold their goods.
Children still played.
Soldiers still trained.
Life moved forward.
"…Why?"
She looked toward the sky.
"Why did you choose that path…"
"…Leo?"
Only the wind answered her.
Meanwhile…
Inside the royal palace…
Princess Marla quietly changed into
simple traveling clothes.
She tied her long hair behind her back
before carefully opening her bedroom door.
She had barely taken two steps—
"…You're going after Leo, aren't you?"
She froze.
The guard from before stood at the end
of the hallway with his arms folded.
"…Yes."
There was no point denying it anymore.
"I need answers."
The guard slowly approached her.
"I understand."
"I truly do."
"But before you leave…"
"I want you to think carefully."
He looked directly into her eyes.
"You now know…"
"…that everything you witnessed that
day wasn't a dream."
Marla's expression stiffened.
The guard continued quietly.
"If you meet him now…"
"…are you prepared to face the truth?"
Unable to answer…
Marla slowly returned to her room.
The door quietly closed behind her.
Silence filled the room.
"…The truth…"
She slowly sat on the edge of her bed.
Memories she had believed were dreams
gradually resurfaced.
The burning academy…
The screams…
The collapsing buildings…
And…
Leo.
She remembered running toward him.
Tears streaming down her face.
She remembered confessing her
feelings.
"I…"
"I love you…"
At first…
Leo had simply stared at her.
He hadn't answered.
Instead…
He turned away.
She remembered believing he had
rejected her.
But…
A few moments later…
He returned.
His expression had been calmer than
before.
"I don't know whether I like you."
His voice echoed clearly within her
memory.
"But…"
"I can't bring myself to kill you."
Her heartbeat quickened.
Then she remembered doing something
unbelievably reckless.
She had grabbed him…
And kissed him.
"…!"
Marla buried her burning face in both
hands.
"Why…"
"Why did I actually do that…?"
Immediately afterward…
An overwhelming surge of power had
erupted throughout her body.
It felt as though countless stars had
been compressed into a single heartbeat.
The energy had nearly consumed her.
Leo had immediately placed a hand
against her forehead.
The violent power instantly settled.
He calmly sealed whatever had entered
her before gently carrying her away from the academy.
That…
Had been the final memory.
The one he made her forget.
Marla slowly fell backward onto her
bed.
"…So…"
"…I really kissed him."
Steam practically rose from her face.
She buried herself beneath her blanket
in embarrassment.
"I can never look him in the eyes
again…"
Yet…
Despite her embarrassment…
One question remained.
Why couldn't he kill me?
Far from every kingdom…
At an unknown location hidden deep
within the wilderness…
Two figures quietly walked through an
endless forest.
"So…"
"Any idea where Leo left the others?"
One of them asked.
The other shook his head.
"No."
"But if we're searching for them…"
"They're probably searching for each
other too."
Silence followed.
Both individuals looked toward the
horizon.
Without another word…
Their bodies disappeared into the
wind.
The search had already begun.
Inside the Demon Realm…
Thousands of elite soldiers stood in
perfect formation.
Each one possessed enough strength to
destroy an ordinary army alone.
Standing before them…
The Demon General observed every face.
His voice echoed across the enormous
courtyard.
"Our objective remains unchanged."
"We will locate the ten individuals
who inherited Leo's power."
His eyes narrowed.
"At any cost."
The soldiers answered in unison.
"YES, GENERAL!"
He continued.
"However…"
"If any of you happen to find Leo
himself…"
"…report immediately."
A smile slowly appeared on his face.
"The rewards for locating even one of
them…"
"…will be beyond anything you've ever
imagined."
Excitement spread throughout the
ranks.
Gold.
Titles.
Land.
Power.
Every soldier silently imagined the
reward.
The Demon General raised one hand.
"Go."
The instant his hand fell—
Thousands of demons vanished in every
direction.
Across the world…
Humans.
Demons.
Hidden survivors.
And those connected to Leo.
Without realizing it…
Every one of them had begun moving
toward the same inevitable destination.
The search for the missing hero had
finally begun.